Switchpoint, based in St. George, Utah, received $3.8 Million in grants from notable Utah philanthropic organizations, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, to advance its "Point at Fairpark" housing project in Salt Lake City.
July 18, 2024, Salt Lake City, Utah
Switchpoint, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating homelessness and extreme poverty, is thrilled to announce the receipt of a $1.8 million grant from the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund, $1 million grant from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a $1 million grant from the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation.
This funding will support the completion of Phase 2 of Switchpoint's Point at Fairpark project, located at 130 North 2100 West in Salt Lake City.
Switchpoint purchased the property in June 2022, envisioning it as a deeply affordable and permanently supportive housing facility. Phase 1 of the project, completed in May 2023, included property acquisition and renovation, resulting in 91 studio units, which are now fully occupied by seniors and veterans experiencing homelessness and whose income falls under 40% of the Area Median Income (AMI) limit. The facility provides a range of amenities, including free laundry services, an onsite food pantry, and 24/7 security.
Phase 2 of the project will focus on several critical improvements:
"The support from the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation is a significant milestone in our mission to provide deeply affordable and supportive housing to those who need it most," said Carol Hollowell, Executive Director of Switchpoint. "This funding not only enables us to enhance the infrastructure of our project but also to expand the range of services we can offer to our residents, fostering a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive."
The Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have consistently demonstrated their commitment to helping people experiencing homelessness and poverty and have supported the Switchpoint vision and mission.
Headquartered in St. George, Utah, Switchpoint was founded in 2014. Initially, it served as an emergency shelter and food pantry. The organization has since shifted to buying and providing low-rent housing for people experiencing homelessness or poverty. Switchpoint also wraps customized services around every client. Switchpoint differentiates itself from other providers by running businesses, making the nonprofit less dependent on government funding, grants and donations. In addition to operating two emergency shelters and two food pantries, Switchpoint operates two community soup kitchens, three thrift stores, two 24/7 childcare facilities, a doggie daycare, an aeroponic garden and a coffee company, all providing independent funding for Switchpoint’s mission.
Switchpoint has developed five affordable housing projects since 2020, adding 266 units to Utah's deeply affordable housing inventory. The project, located in a Utah Housing Corporation Qualified Bonus Area, is dedicated to serving special needs populations, including homeless seniors and verified veterans aged 62 and older, living on limited fixed incomes. The project also supports survivors of domestic violence, reentry from incarceration, individuals with substance use disorders, mental illness and disabilities, among others.
For more information about the project and Switchpoint, visit switchpoint.org.
View the May 2023 ribbon-cutting event at Point at Fairpark.